How to become a supplier

Table of contents

Information/requirements on becoming an IBM supplier

Please select your geography from the list of geographies below. Once selected, please choose the commodity that best describes your product and/or service. A contact name, phone number, and e-mail address is provided within each commodity section for questions regarding the process. A link to the request form for a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) report (to be generated at your expense) is also provided. Please be advised that there are no guarantees that you will become an IBM supplier once the D&B request form is filled out and submitted. Additionally, please register your business, including any diverse designations, via the Emptoris sourcing portfolio.

Small suppliers (less than $50M in revenue or less than 500 employees) should register in Supplier Connection, a free, Web-based portal that allows small businesses to more easily apply to become suppliers to large corporations.

Diverse supplier eligibility and contact information

To qualify as a minority supplier, a company must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizen(s) from any of the following ethnic groups: African American, Hispanic, Native (including Eskimo and Native Hawaiians), and Asian Americans; or is "minority controlled" by 30 percent of its voting stock, board of directors, and management. Women owned businesses must be 51 percent owned, managed, and controlled by one or more female U.S. citizen(s).

People with disabilities (PWD) owned businesses must be 51 percent owned, managed, and controlled by one or more disabled person(s), service disabled honorable discharged veteran(s), or be an organization that employs a substantial number of people with disabilities.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) owned businesses must be 51 percent owned, managed, and controlled by one or more LGBT individual(s).

IBM accepts certifications/documentation from the following organizations:

Minority owned: The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and its regional affiliate councils. The Small Business Administration (SBA) and other federal, state, or local (county, city) government agencies.

Woman owned: The Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and other federal, state, or local (county, city) government agencies.

Person with disability: Copy of letter from public health department which establishes eligibility for benefits; e.g., parking placards, etc. For organizations that employ people with disabilities, documentation from a federal or state agency.

Veteran: Verification from Department of Veterans Affairs or United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN), indicating that the business owner has a service-connected disability and was honorably discharged from the armed services.

Disabled veteran: Verification from Department of Veterans Affairs indicating that the business owner has a service-connected disability and was honorably discharged from the armed services.